Heavy duty magnet mount

ABSTRACT

A mount for an electronic device includes a ferromagnetic element securable to the electronic device, and a mount body including a face plate and at least one leg, the magnet secured in the face plate, and the at least one leg movable from a stored position to a support position. The stored position is flush with the face plate, and the support position is normal to the face plate. The magnet and ferromagnetic element combine with the leg in it support position to allow reliable mounting of heavy and/or oversized electronic devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/027,856, filed on Jul. 23, 2014, hereby incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

Disclosed is a magnetic mount for an electronic device, such as acellular/portable telephone, tablet, book reader, GPS, or the like.

Mounts for electronic devices are known. Some mounts use magnets withinthe mount, and a separate ferromagnetic plate or other element thatattaches to an external part of the electronic device, for example, theback of the device. When the device is placed in the vicinity of themount with the ferromagnetic plate facing the magnet, the magnetic fieldof the magnet attracts the ferromagnetic plate and the device attachedto the ferromagnetic plate is held to the magnet, and therefore to themount.

Alternatively, some mounts for electronic devices use cradles that mayinclude side supports and bottom supports, so that the device may berested on or in fact clamped or otherwise held to the mount by somecombination of support arms or legs.

Mounts such as those described above have disadvantages. For example,with the increasing size and weight of electronic devices, cradle stylemounts may not have sufficient clamping ability to maintain anelectronic device on or in the mount, such as during cornering,acceleration, or deceleration of a vehicle in which the mount is used,or such as on rough roads or other terrain where the vehicle may bounceor lurch.

Similarly, a magnet and a ferromagnetic plate alone may not be enough tomaintain an electronic device on the mount. Still further, magneticstyle mounts place a ferromagnetic plate on an exterior of the device,and to use the device without the mount, the ferromagnetic plate isexposed. Users typically do not wish to have an exposed ferromagneticplate, which many consider to be distracting or unsightly. Also, manyusers of electronic devices such as those described use cases or othercoverings for their electronic devices, and do not wish to place aferromagnetic plate on those cases or coverings, either.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a mount for an electronicdevice includes a ferromagnetic element securable to the electronicdevice, a mount body. The mount body includes a face plate and at leastone leg, the magnet secured in the face plate, and the at least one legmovable from a stored position to a support position.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, amount for an electronicdevice includes a mount body having a housing having a face, a magnetdisposed within the housing, and at least one leg extension movablebetween a stored position and a support position.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a mount for an electronicdevice includes a housing having a front plate and a back plate coupledtogether, a mount face coupled to the front plate, the mount face havingan opening therein, a magnet in the housing, positioned in the openingof the mount face, and an extendible, foldable leg coupled to andextendible from the housing, wherein the leg is extendible substantiallyparallel to the mount face, and foldable at a distal position to thehousing from a first position substantially coplanar with the mount faceto a second position substantially perpendicular to the mount face.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of mounting anelectronic device to a mount body includes mounting a ferromagneticelement to or within the electronic device to assist in removablyretaining the electronic device to a mount body, providing a mount bodyhaving a magnet and adjustable legs movable from a stored position to asupport position, and removably retaining the electronic device to themount body using the magnet and ferromagnetic element, and/or theadjustable legs.

Other aspects of the present disclosure may be combined with one or moreof the preceding aspects, and include magnet being covered by a magnetcover; the magnet, magnet cover, and legs being positioned and/ormounted within a mount body case; the legs being adjustably extendiblefrom the mount body; a ferromagnetic element mountable to the electronicdevice; the extendible, foldable leg including a pair of leg extensionsrotatably mounted to the leg, the pair of leg extensions rotatablebetween the first position and the second position; and the extendible,foldable leg including a leg body extendible from the housingsubstantially coplanar to the mount face, and a leg extension rotatablycoupled to the leg body, the leg extension rotatable from the firstposition and the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mount body for an electronic device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the mount body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the mount body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vent base for the mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the vent base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the vent base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the vent base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mount body such as the mount of FIG. 1and its connection to a vent base;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a dash base;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the dash base of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the dash base of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the dash base of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a mount body such as the mount of FIG.1 and its connection to a dash base;

FIG. 15 is a view of an electronic device with a ferromagnetic plate andan optional case;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a ferromagnetic plate placement insidea cover of an electronic device;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a mount body and vent base secured to avent;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a mount body and dash base; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a mount body with legs in theirsupporting position and extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mount for an electronicdevice with a hidden ferromagnetic element, a magnetic base, andfoldable, optional legs for further support.

Static magnetic field strength decreases roughly exponentially as afunction of distance from a magnet. Magnetic fields are affected byinterfering objects and/or material between the magnet and aferromagnetic element. Because of this, placement of ferromagneticplates inside electronic devices, such as inside a back cover of adevice, or between a device and a case, can severely decrease theeffectiveness of magnetic mounts.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a mount body 100 for mounting an electronicdevice thereto is shown. An electronic device can include, by way ofexample only and not by way of limitation, a portable telephone, such asa cellular or satellite telephone, a tablet, music player, book reader,global positioning satellite (GPS) device, or the like. Mount body 100has a mount face (or face plate) 102, legs 104, a magnet cover 106, andfurther comprises a front plate 108 and a back plate 110 that may beremovably or permanently fastened together by any number of fasteners orfastening methods, including, by way of example only and not by way oflimitation, screws, nuts and bolts, glue, snap-fittings, or the like.Legs 104 in one embodiment are rotatably mounted to front plate 108, topivot about an axis identified at line 116. Legs 104 are shown as asingle leg with two leg extensions in FIG. 4. It should be understoodthat legs 104 may comprise a single molded piece with two legextensions, or alternatively, individually rotatable leg extensions 104Aand 104B. A socket 118 is formed with or attached to back plate 110, forreceiving a ball of a base (described later herein).

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, an exploded view of a mount body 100is shown. Legs 104 are shown in FIG. 4 as extendible from a bottom 122of front plate 108. Legs 104 are rotatable from a stored position asshown in FIG. 1, where individual legs 104A and 104B, in one embodimentformed in a unitary body rotatable together, but in another embodimentindividually rotatable, are rotatable to a supporting position as shownin FIGS. 4, 17, and 18. In the stored position, individual legs 104A and104B fold flush to front plate 108 into openings 124A and 124B,respectively, and are in the stored position substantially coplanar withthe face plate 102. In the support position, the legs extendsubstantially normal to the face plate 102.

A leg extension assembly (or leg base) 114 allows for the extension oflegs 104 as is shown in FIG. 4. Leg extension assembly 114 is known inthe art and will not be described further herein.

Mount body 100 includes a magnet, in one embodiment a rare earth magnet,112, which is disposed at least partially in opening 120 of front plate108, and secured therein by magnet cover 106 and suitable fastenersand/or guides on one or both of front plate 108 and back plate 110.Mount face 102 is secured to front plate 108, such as by tabs 126 thatengage corresponding slots 128 in front plate 108, or by other suitablemechanisms that will be apparent to one of skill in the art, withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, a vent base 200 is shown. Vent base 200comprises, in one embodiment, a ball 202 for engaging a socket such assocket 118 of mount body 100, at least one clip 204 for removableattachment of the vent base 200 to a vent such as an air vent of avehicle, and a brace 206 for support of the vent base when the clip 204is removably attached to a vent. As shown in FIGS. 5-8, two clips 204are used, although more or fewer clips 204 may be used without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure. Ball 202 and clip(s) 204 extend from avent base body 210, in one embodiment on opposite sides thereof. A cordmanagement clip 208, for temporary restraint of a cord such as a cord ofan electronic device placed on the mount body 100, is provided at a topof the vent base body 210, although other placements of a cordmanagement clip, including on the mount body, are contemplated withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure.

Brace 206 is, in one embodiment, rotatably mounted to vent base body 210using an axle 212 that snap fits into fastening clips 214 of vent basebody 210. Multiple fastening clips 214 are provided in one embodiment.While the orientation of clips 204 and brace 206 are shown substantiallyhorizontally in FIGS. 5-8, it should be understood that the clips 204and brace 206 may, in other embodiments, be oriented substantiallyperpendicular to the orientation shown, so as to be mountable in a ventwith a different orientation of slats or openings. Further, clips 204and brace 206 may be oriented perpendicular to one another, and in someembodiments, fastening clips 214 may be provided on one vent base body210 that are substantially perpendicular to one another, to allowmodular orientation of the brace 206.

FIG. 9 shows an assembly of a mount body 100 to a vent base 200, inwhich ball 202 of vent base 200 engages socket 118 of mount body 100,allowing a secure yet movable connection between the mount body 100 andthe vent base 200. A threaded cap 300 engages threads on the socket 118to more securely mount mount body 100 to vent base 200.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-13, a dash base 400 is shown. Dash base 400may be used to mount to a dashboard of a vehicle, or to another smoothsurface such as a window or windshield, or the like. Dash base 400comprises, in one embodiment a ball 402 for engaging a socket such assocket 118 of mount body 100, a dash base body 404, and a suction pad406. A suction/vacuum mounting assembly (not shown) allows removablemounting of the dash base 400. Such an assembly is known in the art, andwill not be described further herein, except to note that any suctiontype mounting system is amenable to use with the embodiments of thepresent disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Ball 402 extends in one embodiment on a ball mount extension 410. Ballmount extension 410 also includes, in one embodiment, a cord managementclip 408, for temporary restraint of a cord such as a cord of anelectronic device placed on the mount body 100. Cord management clip 408is shown at a bottom of the ball mount extension 410, although otherplacements of a cord management clip, including on the mount body, arecontemplated without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 shows an assembly of a mount body 100 to a dash base 400, inwhich ball 402 of dash base 400 engages socket 118 of mount body 100,allowing a secure yet movable connection between the mount body 100 andthe dash base 400. A threaded cap 300 engages threads on the socket 118to more securely mount mount body 100 to dash base 400.

An electronic device 500 is shown in perspective in FIG. 15, with aferromagnetic plate 502 secured thereon. The ferromagnetic plate 502 isalso shown not secured to the device 500. A device case 504 is alsoshown. Device case 504 may be used with embodiments of the presentdisclosure to cover ferromagnetic plate 502 so that it cannot be seenwhen a user is using their device 500. The case 504 being situatedbetween the ferromagnetic plate 502 and a magnet such as magnet 112 ofmount body 100, reduces the amount of magnetic force between the mountbody 100 and the ferromagnetic plate 502. An electronic device 600 isshown in FIG. 16. In contrast to the electronic device 500 shown in FIG.15, electronic device 600 has a removable back, and is comprised in partof a back plate 602 and a front plate 604. When back plate 602 isremoved a ferromagnetic plate such as plate 502 may be inserted into aninterior of electronic device 600, such as by securing plate 502 to aninner surface of back plate 604. The device 600 is re-assembled. Theback plate 602 being situated between the ferromagnetic plate 502 and amagnet such as magnet 112 of mount body 100, reduces the amount ofmagnetic force between the mount body 100 and the ferromagnetic plate502.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show, respectively, a mounting process for mounting adevice such as device 500 to a mount body 100, with FIG. 17 showing avent base 200 for the mount body 100, and FIG. 18 showing a dash base400 for the mount body 100. It should be understood that a device suchas device 600 is mountable to the mount body in the same way as device500 is mounted to the mount body.

In each of FIGS. 17 and 18, a device 500 having a case 504, and aferromagnetic plate 502 (not shown) is brought near to mount body 100,such as along a path like arrow 700, and the magnet 112 behind magnetcover 106 exerts a magnetic force on ferromagnetic plate 502 to assistin holding the device 500 to the mount body 100. As the magnet isfurther away from the ferromagnetic plate, and as there is interveningmaterial (the case, or in device 600, the back plate 604) whichattenuates the attraction between the plate 502 and the magnet 112,large devices or heavy devices may not be held with sufficient magneticforce to the mount body. If the device, such as device 500 or 600, istoo large for support by the magnet and ferromagnetic plate alone,foldable, extendible legs 104 may be moved in such a configuration fromtheir stored position to their supporting position, the movementindicated by arrows 702, and also may be extended using leg extensionassembly 114.

Although only legs 104 are shown, it should be understood thatadditional supports such as lateral supports may be added to the mountbody without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

In combination, embodiments of the present disclosure may include amount body such as mount body 100, a ferromagnetic element such as plate502, together and/or in with one or more of a vent base and a dash baseas described herein.

In operation, mounting an electronic device such as a device 500 or 600to a mount body is accomplished as follows. A ferromagnetic plate suchas plate 502 is attached to an electronic device, or is sandwichedbetween a back of an electronic device and a case for the device, or isinserted into an interior of the electronic device, such as inside arear cover of the device. The electronic device is brought intoproximity with a body mount such as mount body 100, and a magnet of themount body attracts the ferromagnetic plate. Legs, such as legs 104 onmount body 100, may be moved from their stored position to theirsupporting position, and adjusted with leg extension device to properlyplace the ferromagnetic plate in the closest proximity to the magnet, orto support the electronic device in a desired position, providingadditional support to the electronic device.

It should be understood that some electronic devices have metallic orferromagnetic back covers already. In such devices, a mount body such asmount body 100 may be used without the ferromagnetic plate 502,providing magnetic force between its magnet and the metallic cover ofthe device, along with additional support from legs such as legs 104.Also, a ferromagnetic plate such as plate 502 may be used as well.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A mount for an electronic device, comprising: aferromagnetic element securable inside a cover of the electronic device;and a mount body, the mount body comprising a magnet, a face plate, andat least one leg, the magnet secured in the face plate, and the at leastone leg movable with respect to the mount body from a stored position toa support position.
 18. The mount of claim 17, wherein the magnet iscovered by a magnet cover, and the magnet, magnet cover, and the atleast one leg are positioned and/or mounted within the mount body. 19.The mount claim 17, wherein the at least one leg is adjustablyextendible from the mount body.
 20. The mount of claim 19, wherein theat least one leg is extendible from the mount body in a directioncoplanar with the face plate, and is foldable between the storedposition and the support position, the support position beingsubstantially normal to the face plate.
 21. The mount of claim 17,wherein the at least one leg further comprises a pair of leg extensionsrotatably mounted to the leg, the pair of leg extensions rotatablebetween the first position and the second position to form a support forthe electronic device.
 22. The mount of claim 21, wherein the at leastone leg is adjustably extendible from the mount body substantiallyparallel to the face plate.
 23. The mount of claim 22, wherein the atleast one leg is foldable between the stored position and the supportposition, the support position being substantially normal to the faceplate.
 24. A mount for an electronic device, comprising: a ferromagneticelement securable inside a cover of the electronic device; and a mountbody comprising: a back plate; and a front plate connectable with theback plate to form the mount body, the front plate having a face with anopening therein; a magnet configured to fit in the opening; and a magnetcover covering the magnet.
 25. The mount of claim 24, and furthercomprising a face plate covering the magnet cover and the front plate.26. The mount of claim 24, and further comprising at least one legcoupled to the front plate, the at least one leg movable relative to thefront plate from a stored position coplanar with the face to a supportposition substantially perpendicular to the face.
 27. The mount of claim26, wherein the at least one leg comprises a distal, extendible,foldable leg extension, the leg extension is extendible substantiallycoplanar to the mount face, and wherein the at least one leg extensionis foldable at a distal position to the front plate from the firstposition to the second position.
 28. The mount of claim 27, wherein thefoldable leg extension is rotatably connected to the leg extension, andthe leg extension extendibly mounted to the housing and extendiblebetween a first position in which the leg extension is adjacent thehousing and a second position in which the leg extension is separatedfrom the housing.
 29. A method of mounting an electronic device to amount body, comprising: mounting a ferromagnetic element within theelectronic device to assist in removably retaining the electronic deviceto a mount body; providing a mount body having a magnet, a magnet cover,and adjustable legs movable from a stored position to a supportposition; and removably retaining the electronic device to the mountbody using the magnet and ferromagnetic element, and/or the adjustablelegs.